Part 29 (1/2)
”It seems too paltry. For Desmei, Tamurello represented not only himself but all his kind. There are no gauges to measure such malice; one can only feel and wonder.”
”And cringe.”
”It is instructive, perhaps, to note that Desmei in her creation of Melancthe and Carfilhiot used a demon magic derived from Xabiste. The green gas may itself be Desmei, in a form imposed upon her by the condition of Xabiste. If so, she is no doubt anxious to resume a more conventional shape.”
”Are you suggesting that Desmei and Tamurello are bottled together in the globe?”
”It is only an idle thought. Meanwhile I guard Joald and soothe his monstrous hulk, and ward away whatever might disturb his long wet rest. When time permits, I study the demon magic of Xabiste, which is slippery and ambiguous. Such are my preoccupations.”
”You mentioned that you were about to call me here to Swer Smod.”
”Quite so. The conduct of a moth has caused me concern.”
”An ordinary moth?”
”So it would seem.”
”And I am here to deal with this moth?”
”The moth is more significant than you imagine. Yesterday, just before dusk, I came through the door and, as always, took note of the globe. I saw that a moth had apparently been attracted by the green light and had settled upon the surface. As I watched, it crawled to where it could look into Tamurello's eyes. I immediately summoned the sandestin Rylf, who informed me that I saw not a moth but a shybalt from Xabiste.”
s.h.i.+mrod's jaw dropped. ”That is bad news.”
Murgen nodded. ”It means that a strand of communication is open-between whatever resides in the globe and someone else where.”
”What then?”
”When the moth-shybalt flew away, Rylf a.s.sumed the form of a dragonfly and followed. The moth crossed the mountains and flew down the Vale of Evander to the city Ys.”
”And then, along the beach to Melancthe's villa?”
”Surprisingly, no. The shybalt might have become aware of Rylf. At Ys it darted down to a flambeau on the square, where it joined a thousand other moths, all careening around the flame, to Rylf's confusion. He remained on watch, hoping to identify the moth he had followed from Swer Smod. As he waited, considering the swirling myriad, one of the moths dropped to the ground and altered its form to that of a human man. Rylf had no way of knowing whether this was the moth he had been following, or a totally different insect. By the laws of probability, as Rylf reckoned them, the moth of his interest remained in the throng; therefore Rylf took no special note of the man, although he was still able to provide a detailed description.”
”That is all to the good, certainly.”
”Just so. The man was of average quality, clad in ordinary garments, wearing a proper hat and shod with the usual sort of shoes. Rylf also noticed that he took himself to the largest of the nearby inns, beneath the sign of the setting sun.”
”That would be the Sunset Inn, on the harbour.”
”Rylf continued to keep watch on the moths, among them- according to the probabilities, as he calculated them-was the moth he had followed from Swer Smod. At midnight the flambeau burned out, and the moths flew off in all directions. Rylf decided that he had done his best and returned to Swer Smod.”
”Hmf,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”And now I am to try my luck at the Sunset Inn?”
”That is my suggestion.”
s.h.i.+mrod reflected. ”It cannot be coincidence that Melancthe is also resident close by Ys.”
”That is for you to verify. I have made inquiry and I learn that we are dealing with the shybalt Zagzig, who lacks good repute even on Xabiste.”
”And when I find him?”